Sign.



Patented June 16, 1914.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

SIGN.

APPLICATION FILED JANA, 191a.

E. BAMBEOK & w. A. VAN MALE.

E. BAMBEGK & W. A. VAN MALE.

SIGN. APPLIOATION FILED JANA, 1913. ,1 1,100,415 1 Patented June 16,1914.

1 2 SHEETS-8HEET 2.

all

; STATES PATENT onnrcn.

' nnwm namsncx ANDWILLIAM- A. van MALE, or narmnzoo, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOBST0 AMERICAN SIGN COMPANY-p01 KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN.

' SIGN.

e al-ta.

To all whom itfmag concern:

Be it known that we, EDWARD BAMBECK and WILLIAM A. VAN MALE, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Kalamazoo, Michigan, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Signs, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to improvements in signs.

Our improvements are particularly designed by us for embodiment inilluminated signs in which the characters or sign indicia are formed oroutlined by lenses as shown for examplev in Letters .Patent to Smith962,724., dated June 28, 1910, and wehave illustratedthe same in theaccompanying drawing as embodied in other types of signs where it.isdesirable to provide means for.

conveniently changing the same.

The main objects of our invention are: First, to provide an improvedsign in which the sign indicia or characters may be quickly and easilychanged. Second, to provide'animproved sign in which the letters orsign.

indicia may be readily changed and one in which the joints betweenchangeable panels;

are close when the panels are in position. Third, to rovide an improvedsign structure embodying these advantages which is comparatively simpleand economical in structure and one which may be very convenientlychanged as desired.

Further objects, and objects relating to structural details, willdefinitely appearfrom the detailed description to follow,

We accomplish the objects of our invention by the devices and meansdescribed in the following specification.

The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment' of our invention is clearlyillustrated,

in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, inwhich- Figure I is a front view of a structure embodying the features ofour invention. Fig. II is an enlarged detail horizontal section on aline corresponding to line 22 of Fig. I. Fig. III is an enlarged detailvertical section on a line correspondin to line 33 of Fig. I. Fig. IV isa detail inside spective view of one of the panels 2,

In the drawing similar reference characters refer to similar partsthroughout per- " Specification oflLetters Patent.

Application filed January 4, 1913; Serial No. 740,088.

the several views, and the sectional views are taken looking in thedirection of the little .arrows at the ends of the section lines.

Referring to the drawin the frame of the sign is formed of suita leupright and horizontal pieces 1. We only illustrate the face wall of thesign as our improvements relate only to this portion. The face of thesign comprises a plurality of panels 2 having sign characters or indiciaformed therein by means of the lenses 3. These panels 2 are formed ofsheet metal and are provided with supporting flanges 4: at their top andsupporting flanges 5 at their bottom edges.

The flange 4 is inclined downwardly, while the flange 5 is substantiallyhorizontal and is provided with a downturned edge 6. The flange 5 isupwardly offset from the lower edge of the panel. At one side edge eachpanel is provided with an outwardly inclined joint member 7, while atthe other it is provided with a channeled joint member 8, the channelbeing preferably V- shaped, as illustrated.

In the structure illustrated, the panels are provided with verticalreinforcing bars 9 arranged between the' supporting flanges. Thesupporting flanges also srveto reinforce the panels. The flange 4 isextended or continued over the upper end of the channel joint member 8.See Fi IV. The panels and their supporting anges and joint members arepreferably formed integrally of sheet metal, as illustrated. The panelsare removably mounted on the supports. 10 having downwardly offsetflanges 11 providedwith upturned edges 12 with which the supportingflanges 4: of the panels engage. See Fig. III. p

The supporting flanges 5 are engaged over the upper edges of the supportbelow. The supports 10 and the flanges 11 thereof are preferably formedintegrally of sheet metal.

he sup orts 10, are in the structure illustrated, siiouldered at 13 toreceive the lower edges of the panels so that the faces of the theflanges 11 so that water drains from the order to secure themimposition. T e joint Patented June 16, 1914.

panels are substantially flush with the faces. of the supports. Thesupports overhang member 8 of each panel overlaps the joint member 7 ofan adjacent panel, as clearly shown in Fig. II. Any particular panel maybe removed or placed without disturbing the others. This is effected bylifting the panel upwardly and swinging laterally, the joint member 7being cut away at the top to permit this upward movement. This allowsthe joint member 7 to be slipped under or removed from the channel jointmember 8 of the adjacent panel without in any manner disturbing thatpanel. By this arrangement, the face of a sign provided with ourchangeable panels e ectively excludes water, and'at' the same time, thepanels may be changed as desired. With moderate care in-formingthepanels and the supports, the panels are supported sothat they do notrattle;

lVe have illustrated and described our improvements in detail in asatisfactory construction. \Ve have not attempted to illustrate ordescribe various modifications which we contemplate as we believe thedisclosure made will enable those skilled in the art.to-

which this invention relates to embody the same as condi'tions or tastedictate or require.

We desire, however, to be understood as claiming our improvementsspecifically in the term illustrated as well as broadly within the scopeof the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a sign, the combination with a frame, of panels each provided withinwardly projecting supporting flanges at its top and bottrm. and jointmembers at its side edges, the top supporting flange being inclineddownwardly. the bottom supporting flange being upwardly offset from thelower edge of the panel and having a downturned edge, said panels andtheir supporting anges and jeint members being formed integrally ofsheet metal, and panel supports on said frame provided with downwardlyoffset flanges having upwardly inclined edges with which the topsupporting flanges of the panels are engaged, the bottom flanges of thepanels being engaged over theupper edges of the support below, saidsupports being shouldered to receive the lower edges of the panels aboveand being adapted to overhang the upper edges of the panels below, saidsupports and their respective flanges being formed integrally of sheetmetal.

Q. In a sign, the combination with a" els and their suppditing flangesand joint members being formed integrally of sheet metal, and panelsupports on said frame provided with downwardly offset flanges havingupwardly inclined edges with which the top supporting flanges of thepanels are engaged, the bottom flanges of the panels being engaged overthe upper edges of the support below, said supports and their saidflanges being formed integrally of sheet metal.

3. In a sign, the combination with a frame, of panels each provided withinwardly projecting supporting flanges at its top and bottom,.and jointmembers at its side edges, the top supporting flange being inclineddownwardly, the bottom supporting flange being upwardl offset from thelower edge of the panel and having a downturned edge, one jolnt memberbeing outwardly inclined, the other being V-shaped to overlap theoutwardly inclined joint member of the adjacent panel, the top flangebeing continued over the V-shaped joint member, and

anel supports on said frame provided with flanges having outwardlyinclined edges with which the top supporting flanges of the panels areengaged, the bottom flanges of the panels being engaged with the supportbelow. 4 I

4. In a sign, the combination of panels each provided with inwardlyprojecting supporting flanges at its top and bottom, and joint membersat its side edges, the top supporting flange being inclined downwardly,the bottom supporting flange being upwardly offset from the lower edgeof the panel and having a downturned edge, one joint member beingchanneled to receive the meeting joint member of the adjacent panel, thetop flange being continued over the channeled joint member, and panelsupports with which said supporting flanges are removably engaged.

5. In a sign, the combination of panels each provided with inwardlyprojecting supporting flanges at its top and bottom, and joint membersat its side edges, the top sup porting flange being inclined downwardly,the bottom supporting flange being upwardly offset from the lower edgeof the panel and having a downturned edge, one joint member beingchanneled to receive the meeting joint member of the adjacent panel.

6. In a sign, the combination of panels each provided with inwardlyprojecting supporting flanges at its top and bottom, the top flangebeing inclined downwardly, the bottom flange being upwardly offset fromthe lower edge of the panel and having a downturned edge, and panelsupports provided with downwardly offset flanges having upwardlyinclined edges with which the top supporting flanges of the panels areengaged, the bottom flanges of the panels being engaged over the upperedges of the support below, said supports being pro- 19 vided withshoulders adapted to receive the lower edges of the panels above andbeing adapted to overhang the upper edges of the panels below.

7. In a sign, the combination of panels each provided with inwardlyrejecting supporting flanges at its top and Bottom, the top flange beinginclined downwardly, and panel supports provided with downwardly oflsetflanges having upwardly inclined edges with which the top supportingflanges of the panels are engaged, the bottom flanges of the panelsbeing engaged over the upper edges of the support below.

8. In a sign, the combination of panels each provided with inwardlyprojecting supporting flanges at its top and bottom, and panel supportsprovided with flanges with which the top supporting flanges of thepanels are engaged, the bottom flanges of the panels being engaged overthe upper edges of the support below.

9. In a sign the combination with a frame, of panels provided withinwardly projecting supporting flanges at their top and bottom and jointmembers at their side edges, one joint member being channeled to receivethe meeting joint member of the adjacent panel, the top flange being continued over the channeled joint member, and

panel supports on said frame with which said 0pupporting flanges areremovably engage 10. In a sign, the combination of panels, each providedwith inwardly projecting supporting flanges at its top and bottom andwith joint members at lts side edges, one joint member being outwardlyinclined, the other being channeled to overla the outwardly inclinedjoint member 0 the adjacent panel, the channeled joint members beingadapted to permit the engaging and disengaging of the co-acting jointmember therewith with an edgewise and swinging movement without shiftingthe adjacent panel, and supports coacting with the flanges at the topand bottom of said panels permitting the engagement and disengagementthereof with a swinging and vertical movement, all coacting for thepurpose specified.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands in the presence oftwo witnesses.

EDWARD BAMBECK. WILLIAM A. VAN MALE.

Witnesses to the signature of Edward Bambeck:

FAINNIE R001,

HOMER BRUNDAGE.

Witnesses to the signature of William Van Male:

GUY A. BECKWITH, W. P. MCGLENN.

